Could Donald Trump fire special counsel Robert Mueller?

Washington is abuzz with rumors that President Trump is considering dismissing Robert Mueller as special counsel to the Justice Department for its investigation of Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election.

“I think he’s considering perhaps terminating the special counsel. I think he’s weighing that option,” Ruddy said. “I think it’s pretty clear by what one of his lawyers said on television recently. I personally think it would be a very significant mistake, even though I don’t think there’s a justification [for a special counsel].”

Among other concerns, this statement set off a barrage of questions about whether Trump even has the authority to fire a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department. Though Trump’s penchant for firing people is well known, its scope has some limits.

Jonathan Turley, a professor of law at George Washington University Law School, explained that the special counsel is allowed to continue in his role unless there is “good cause” for his termination.

“As the head of the executive branch, Trump can claim the authority to fire any executive officer,” Turley told Yahoo News. “However, both the attorney general and the deputy attorney general have their own independent obligations. The actual firing of Mueller would have to be done by Mr. Rosenstein.”

With Richardson’s resignation, it was up to Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to carry out Nixon’s order. Ruckelshaus also refused and resigned.

Then Nixon’s order fell to Solicitor General Robert Bork, who was acting head of the Justice Department. He obliged and fired Cox. This chain of events went down in history as the Saturday Night Massacre.

Turley is confident that Rosenstein is telling the truth and doubts that Trump wants another Saturday Night Massacre on his hands.

“I have no question at all that Rosenstein would resign absent evidence of good cause to fire Mueller. If he did not, he would shred every ounce of his reputation that he has earned over the course of decades of service,” Turley said. “Trump could certainly go down the same path as Richard Nixon, but that path leads to a place I doubt Trump wants to go.”

President Trump boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday to travel to Milwaukee. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)